New chapters in life

Today while I was at the gym with 2 friends of mine we began to talk. That in itself is not unusual, of course. I can talk almost anyone up a storm and back down again!! But it was the topic of our conversation that has had me thinking all day long about some things.

We women have an interesting journey to travel. I am so thankful that we were chosen to be partners with Heavenly Father in being able to bear children and be mothers. I am so thankful to be a wife, a daughter, a sister. I am grateful to be a woman. But there is another side. Because we are women and we do have the wonderful opportunity to bear children, we are very defined by them, our identities rest with them. Wrong or not, that is just the way it is. So, when our children grow up and don't "need" us as much..we become lost, trying to find ourselves amidst the settling dust of our children's lives.

Some days I feel so sad because I feel like I am not contributing in any way, anywhere. I think of going to work and that doesn't feel right. I want to be available to help my kids wherever and whenever I can. I think of going back to school AGAIN and that doesn't feel too bad except that I am old.

So my friends and I decided that once a week we are going to go out to lunch and go shopping or do some other engaging activity..I don't know if we will find one that beats shopping!! Wish us luck!